Honors Environmental Science



ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION PPT WORKSHEET A

Objectives:

1. Explain and describe how succession happens.

2. Describe primary succession.

3. Describe secondary succession.

Important Vocabulary:

Ecological Succession Primary Succession Pioneer Species

Secondary Succession Old-field Succession Climax Community

Ecological Succession

Ecosystems Change Over Time:

A shallow lake gradually fills in over time and becomes a _____________________.

A forest burns and becomes a ___________________. A beaver dams a stream and

and creates a _________________. These changes occur in a regular pattern and are

called ______________________________ ___________________________.

Succession is the change in an ecosystem from ______________________ to more

complex __________________________________________. Remember a complex

ecosystem is one that has great _____________________________.

Remember This!!!

Succession is a process where the ever-changing environment favors one species over another. Certain species will replace another species because they are more suited to the new environment. (example: shade vs. full sun)

Two Types of Succession:

1. 2.

Primary Succession:

1. Primary Succession is when plants grow where they have _____________________

___________________, such as on a new ______________________ island.

A good definition of ______________________________ is when life begins to grow in

an area that ____________________________________________________________.

It is also defined as the type of succession that occurs where _____________________

________________. ___________________ succession can occur on ____________,

sand dunes, after volcanic eruptions, or _____________________________________.

Usually the _________________________ to begin primary succession is some type of

_______________________. ________________________ (likens), or ____________.

All of these species are very hardy and simple plants. You normally see them as a green

film growing on the shady side of trees and sometimes houses. Once these pioneers get

established, they can _______________________ the area so that more ______________

organisms can live there.

Secondary Succession:

Is when plants grow in an area that ___________________________________, such as

a field or forest that was cleared or burned. ____________________ succession is

_____________________________ than primary succession. Secondary succession

occurs in ecosystems that have been disturbed or disrupted. After a forest fire, forest

clearing, or a field is abandoned, new __________________ plants, such as

_______________, are often the first to begin secondary succession. As they grow they

create ______________________. Shade loving plants, such as mountain laurel, grow

and create even more shade. The increased shade creates a lack of _______________

for the sun-loving plants. Because of the shade, the sun-loving plants fail to

__________________ and eventually __________________. The _______________

plants are ____________________ in the ecosystem by the ______________________

plants that reproduce successfully in the shade. As plant species change, so do the animal

species that occupy the area. A good example of __________________succession is

when a _________________ destroys an area and the plants and animals begin to

reestablish themselves in the area that was burned. ______________________________

occurs when farmland is abandoned. When the field is no longer cultivated, __________

and _____________ grow rapidly and produce many seeds to cover larger areas.

Remember This!!!

1. Primary Succession occurs where there has not been a previous ecosystem.

2. Secondary succession occurs after a disturbance in an existing ecosystem.

3. Secondary succession is usually much faster than primary succession.

Whether it is lichen, moss, or algae invading rock during ____________________

succession, or grasses invading an area after a _________________________ during

_____________________ succession: the first organisms to colonize the area are known

as Pioneer Species.

Remember This!!!

Pioneer Species are the ______________ organism to invade an area during

ecological succession.

Climax Community:

Ecological succession will occur until a __________________________________ is

reached. A Climax Community is when the vegetation has reached a _____________

______________: equilibrium. The climax community will continue to exist until there

is a ___________________________________.

1. 2.

Climax communities typically contain___________________________________ such as

oaks, hickory, maples, and beech trees.

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